"Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

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CharlieOneSix
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"Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#1 Post by CharlieOneSix » Wed Sep 16, 2020 11:30 am

We rarely see a Spitfire north of the border so on the 16/17 September for those of us in Scotland, after flypasts of 73 hospitals south of the border, there will be flypasts of 25 Scottish hospitals by the "Thank You NHS" Spitfire. The forecast is good for both days - I shall be at Stracathro Hospital, near Brechin, to watch it fly by at 1039 tomorrow. Here's the schedule:

Wednesday

Annan Hospital – 2.49pm
Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary – 2.55pm
Lands at Cumbernauld Airport – 3.15pm

Thursday

Takes off from Cumbernauld Airport – 10am
Royal Edinburgh Hospital – 10.10am
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh – 10.11am
Lynebank Hospital, Dunfermline – 10.16am
Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline – 10.17am
Perth Royal Infirmary – 10.24am
Murray Royal Hospital, Perth – 10.25am
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee – 10.30am
Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee – 10.31am
Stracathro Hospital, Angus – 10.39am
Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen – 10.48am
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – 10.50am
Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin – 11.08am
Raigmore Hospital, Inverness – 11.18am
New Craigs Psychiatric Hospital, Inverness – 11.20am
Lands at Inverness Airport – 11.30am

Takes off from Inverness Airport – 1.30pm
Stirling Community Hospital – 2pm
Forth Valley Hospital – 2.03pm
New Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow – 2.08pm
Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow – 2.10pm
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow – 2.12pm
Laverndale Hospital, Paisley – 2.14pm
Dykebar Hospital, Paisley – 2.15pm
Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley – 2.17pm
University Hospital Hairmyres, East Kilbride – 2.20pm
Lands at Cumbernauld Airport – 2.25pm

https://news.stv.tv/scotland/spitfire-p ... ls-flyover
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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#2 Post by G-CPTN » Wed Sep 16, 2020 11:56 am

I will be leaving soon to catch the bus to my nearby town (4 miles) although it seems probable that it will overfly my house.

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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#3 Post by CharlieOneSix » Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:14 pm

It’s G-PRXI on Flightradar24.
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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#4 Post by G-CPTN » Wed Sep 16, 2020 2:59 pm

No show in Tynedale.
It had been due to fly over hospitals in Teesside and Darlington Memorial Hospital this morning, before heading across to County Durham and Tyne and Wear and Tynedale.
A spokeswoman said the flight had to return to its base at RAF Duxford following a deterioration of weather conditions in the Leeds area.
There was cloud but not low enough to deter a Spitfire where I was - though other places en-route were probably higher AMSL.

Anyone know what altitude they would fly?

I was out of the house for two hours (fifteen minute bus ride, half an hour walk to reach a suitable vantage point then wait for it not to appear then return to bus station and wait for return bus).

Good job there wasn't a war on . . .

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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#5 Post by G-CPTN » Wed Sep 16, 2020 3:12 pm


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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#6 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Thu Sep 17, 2020 6:34 am

"Thank You NHS" Spitfire returned to Duxford and flew in formation with another local Spitfire late yesterday morning.
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NHS Spitfire in formation with another Duxford based Spitfire.JPG
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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#7 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Thu Sep 17, 2020 7:00 am

Another Duxford Spitfire for those Merlin starved folks up north.

Duxford Spitfire.JPG
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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#8 Post by CharlieOneSix » Thu Sep 17, 2020 7:55 am

It's a cracking day in Scotland, Gromit! CAVOK nearly everywhere. The Spitfire is sitting ready at Cumbernauld for its 1000 departure.
Cam1000.jpg
Cam1000.jpg (32.23 KiB) Viewed 1475 times
I shall be at Stracathro Hospital to see it pass by at 1039 and Mrs C16 will be watching out for it at home as it should pass 400m NW of the house some 4 minutes later enroute to Aberdeen hospitals. Stracathro is in a rural area so hopefully it will pass reasonably low unlike at Aberdeen as the hospitals are in a very built up area.
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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#9 Post by CharlieOneSix » Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:28 am

He was bang on time at 1039 at Stracathro Hospital - a flyby followed by a tight orbit and a wing wave as he departed. I had warned Mrs C16 that he would fly over the house about 4 minutes later and she got some photos with her phone but he was quite high so very blurred when zoomed in...my photos are even worse....
nhs1.JPG
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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#10 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:54 am

Good shot from a phone there C16. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#11 Post by G-CPTN » Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:10 pm

Went into town this afternoon to see the Spitfire perform its final fly-by (postponed from last week).
We got three circuits - the first being a 'sighter'. the second lining up for the pass and the third the direct overfly with the underside level with the text visible directly over the building after which it headed due south, having finished the task.

Who financed this? Well done.

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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#12 Post by CharlieOneSix » Tue Sep 22, 2020 3:42 pm

I think it was self financed by The Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford. John Romain was the pilot and is Director and owner of ARC. I read somewhere that the idea was suggested by his son.

https://www.aircraftrestorationcompany.com/nhsspitfire

and the NE Scotland fly pasts....

Evening Express, Aberdeen - video and photos
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Re: "Thank You NHS" Spitfire in Scotland 16/17 September

#13 Post by G-CPTN » Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:03 pm

donations being made from those having their names handwritten onto the aircraft.
https://www.aircraftrestorationcompany.com/nhsspitfire

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